HARRISBURG  - State Senator John Yudichak (D) 14th has announced his co-sponsorship of two bills designed to strengthen state law when it comes to cases of child abuse.

Senate Bill 549 introduced by Senator Wayne Fontana was the subject of a news conference in the Capitol Rotunda Tuesday. It is intended to encourage people to step forward to report suspected cases of abuse by lowering the legal threshold of what's considered abuse by school employees.

The bill encourages people to step forward to report suspected cases of abuse by lowering the legal threshold of what's considered abuse by school employees. It allows school employees to report directly to law enforcement — rather than just tell a superior — if the worker believes that the person perpetrating the abuse is the one to whom they're required to report it under current law.

Senate Bill 1290 introduced by Senator Larry Farnese would amend the Public Employee Pension Forfeiture Act to keep state and municipal workers who are convicted of a sex crime against a minor from collecting their public pension.

"The allegations made in the Sandusky sexual abuse case clearly illustrate that current law does not do enough to protect children” said Yudichak.  “As a father, I am deeply saddened and horrified by the allegations in the grand jury presentment. While it is now the judicial system responsibility to seek justice for those harmed, it is the legislature’s responsibility to improve upon and strengthen the laws that protect the children of Pennsylvania."